Lyle Wilson Holden

“ Dripping constantly from these was a golden, intoxicating nectar, the fatal lure that tempts the victim to his fate. Surrounding these plates were long green tendrils or arms like those upon an octopus. A slight pressure upon one of these disks would cause the serpent like tendrils to enfold the victim in their deadly embrace, while the sweet fluid rendered the poor wretch oblivious to danger until it was too late.
Silvela stood for a moment silently looking at the strange plant at which I pointed. ”

“ I admonished, "I told you there was danger. Haven't you heard that this devil's plant has been known to gorge itself upon human flesh?"
"The wild story of some frightened native," he scoffed. "Take me to it and nothing shall prevent me from testing the fabled powers of its juices. Stop! Did you not drink of this delicious nectar?"
I shook my head sadly.
"No, I had no wish to try. Why should I seek to become young in body when my heart is old within?"
"You were afraid," he sneered, "afraid of the trailing tendrils of this plant devil." ”

“ Higher and higher rose the dreadful arms, until they hovered over the unconscious form of their victim.
Once I pressed a little too closely, and one of the awful, twisting tendrils came in contact with my hand, I sprang back and just in time for so deadly was the grasp of the noxious arms, that the skin was stripped from my flesh.
Slowly, but surely, the octopus like arms settled about Silvela's body. One of them dropped across his cheek. As it touched the bare flesh a tremor ran through his frame, and he suddenly opened his eyes. ”

“ On the evening of the next day but one, as we sat smoking, I broached the subject.
"Silvela, in the old days you used to be considerably wrapped up in the study of plant life. Are you still interested?"
"Somewhat," he replied, and then his eyes narrowed craftily. "I exhaused the interesting possibilities of most of the known plants of the world a number of years ago. Lately I have found the light that lies in women's eyes' a subject of greater interest." ”

“ Nothing was more natural in the circumstances, than that we should become chums and room-mates. However, it was not long before I began to be sorry that I had entered into such close relationship with him. ”